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This article appeared in the European Files (Page 58): September Issue 2013

Poverty produces poverty – it’s a vicious cycle that affects society as a whole. It requires new ways of thinking about old problems as well as effective responses to new social challenges. Horizon 2020 should be an important source of innovation, contributing to better policies and practice in Europe and beyond. 

Child poverty is a scourge on European society. Currently one child in four in the EU is at risk of poverty and social exclusion. Increasing numbers of children are being exposed to material deprivation, low quality housing, poor nutrition, and inadequate, inaccessible or unaffordable healthcare, and education, often compounded over life. Children and families have also been hit hard by the economic crisis the consequences of which have been worsened by some member state’s austerity measures which target social policies and social spending. Children’s rights and well-being are being severely compromised – which is bad for children now, but it also stores up problems for future generations. Helping to break this cycle of poverty is clearly a priority for Horizon 2020 as it aims to focus on these challenges: inclusive, innovative and secure societies and health, demographic change and wellbeing.

Breaking the cycle of disadvantage requires a comprehensive and rights-based approach to developing policies for investing in children. Prevention and early intervention as well as correction measures must be put in place to tackle problems before they arise or escalate and to redress the negative impact of policies on the well-being of children. This demands an integrated approach: one that brings together traditionally separate policy agendas of social inclusion and social protection, education, health, housing, child care, equality and employment. It will also require coordination to ensure that these policies support each other in delivering on the improvement of children’s well-being and daily living conditions.  Critically, children need to be recognized as active players in their own lives, and the lives of their families and communities, not only as dependents or passive recipients of support.  Children must be treated as competent partners and encouraged to participate in all decisions that affect them.  This is fundamental to building inclusive societies in the future. 

However, policy integration and coordination, and the greater attention to children’s own views and experience require appropriate financial support at EU and member state level. As a first priority, decision-makers must shift their focus from cutting social budgets to investing in these policy areas and related services, and measuring the social and financial returns they produce, as well as assessing the social and economic costs of non-investment. This should be done from a short-, mid as well as long-term perspective.

The upcoming 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework should also contribute in an effective and result oriented way to the eradication of generational poverty. It should address the goals of “Europe 2020”, in particular the social targets for poverty and social exclusion, employment and education. Coherence needs to be ensured between social, health, education and employment policies and between funds and programmes under the MFF. Structural Funds and other EU programs should be used to boost social investment and protection at national level, and to achieve the Europe 2020 social targets. This includes a combination of Horizon 2020 with the European Social Fund (ESF), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI).

Finally, to identify and implement innovative and best practices in the social sector, including in the area of children’s welfare, it is important to involve all relevant stakeholders to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable policy approach. Involving civil society organisations and the people they represent at all different levels and in the different stages of policy making will enable member states to tap into the existing, on the ground knowledge of NGOs. In particular it is important to give a voice to children and young people themselves both through representative organisations, and also by creating a culture of participation and respect for children’s views within child and family services.

Heather Roy 
President, Social Platform